Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-11-11
A NEW PHOTOGRAPHIC LIGHT.
Fine Pictures Taken by n Flash of Gun
Cotton.


At the last meeting of the Society of
Amateur Photographers DR.. H.G. Pilard,
of this city, exhibited new method of
taking photographs by artificial light, to
take the place of the unsatisfactory
method of burning ribbon of magnesium
tape that has been used for a long time.
Before the meeting the young gentlemen
who don't know much about the business
and the gray boards who know it all
stood about in little groups excitedly dis
cussing the new invention.
The routine business was disposed of in
a hurry, and then DR.. Piffard was intro
duced. He is a tall, well built gentle
man, with a head of thick, wavy brown
hair. heavy mustache and strongly
marked features. Liberal applause greeted
him. He read short address on the
difficulties experienced in producing sue
cessfuIlv an artificial light that would do
for taking pictures. He illustrated sew
eral of the unsuccessful attempts that had
been made, and dwclt particularly upon
the failure of the magnesium light. He
lit a ribbon of magnesium tape, and
showed how apt it was to flare up and
then subside and suddenly to go out be-
lore the picture WIS ldhch'
a big camera was rolled out into the
room, and a table, whose top came up
even with the lens, was placed beside it,
\ brick was placed upon the table, and
upon this brick the doctor put about six
grains of gun cotton. and sprinkled over
it from ten to fifteen grains of magne-
stun powder a chair was placed in
front of the camera about ten feet away,
and Mr.. Ii. j. Newton seated himself in
this chair. A wax taper was lit and
handed to Mr.. Newton. who held it close
to his face He was focused in this posi-
ton. and then the lights were turned
down until the room was dark. a dry
plate was placed in the camera, and then
DR.. Piffard lit match and applied it to
the compound. There was IA flash of
of light that made the entire room as
bright as MONDAY for a second. Then
the gas was turned up.
Mr.. Robert Roosevelt was photographed
in the same way. The pictures developed
in a few minutes, and negatives were
handed around. Ehey were perfect,
and a burst of applause greeted the ex-
pertinent.
All manner of dark places can be photo
| graphed by this method, such as thick
woodland scenes and dark caves. 1t will
enable amateur photographers to take
pictures in their homes at night, and will
prolong the hours of work for the profess
SIGNALS, and correspondingly increase their
incomes.
An entirely original use to which it can
be put was referred to by DIR. Piifard.
He explained that small wad of the
compound could be placed in the barrel
of pistol and exploded by conclusion.
He did this, and the flash was just as
bright as when it was Ignited in the loose
state. The idea is the construction of a
small camera made so that it can be fast
ened to the barrel of a pistol. 1t is
claimed that the uses to which this can
be put are manifold. Among them is the
avoidance of any more struggles at police
headquarters when picture is wanted
for the Rogues gallery. The rogue can
be photographed i'll cell so dark that he
will not be able to see the photographer.
The flash is so quick that he will be given
no time to distort his features, to close
his eyes. or to disguise himself in any
way. 1t will also make handy weapon
for man to have by his bedside. For in
stance, man can nave sell cooking re-
volver with camera fastened on the
barrel One of the chambers can be
loaded with this compound and the other
chambers with bullets. When a burglar
appears, the citizen can point his revolver
toward him and take his photograph
first. The tlash, will enable him to see if
there is more than one burglar around,
and if there is not. then he can fire bul.
let at the one whose photograph he has.
If the man escapes, his photograph car
be handed to the police. If there is more
than one burglar, the wisest thing to dc
would be to shoot the one who hash
been photographed, for the other one car
be caught at any time by means of the
picture. Suppose desperate burglar en-
tiers house, and the house owner has
only time to photograph him before he is
murdered. In the morning, providing
the burglar hasn't stolen the camera, as
he surely will if he happens TO read thi: